When I was a little kid and you asked me what I was going to be when I grew up, I think I usually said “writer.” Then I went to college and became an English major, and that, among many other things turned me off the idea of writing. My biggest problem was all the deconstruction. There was just so much density in all the works we read, and none of them were very funny. I wasn’t into being that kind of writer. After graduation, I realized that much of that thematic grandeur of the stuff we read was probably just figments of the imaginations of thousands of students who are required to write papers. Still, the damage was done, I convinced myself that writing wasn’t for me, and found my fortunes elsewhere. (Fortunes being loosely interpreted from the Latin phrase “employed for little to no pay.”)
Now that blogging’s come along, sometimes I let the idea of being a real writer slip back into my head again. It’s so cool that you all come here and actually read what I write, and sometimes that makes me think I’m not as bad as all that. Today, I woke up with a strong desire to not have a post about a phallic section of Scotland be on the top of my blog anymore. But I couldn’t think of anything with which to replace it. From seven o’clock this morning until now, I’ve been trying to think of something to write about.
And I haven’t thought of a damn thing.
Then, I thought about how cool it is that I actually have writer’s block, which is something that REAL WRITERS have. And then I got sad, because the only thing I could think about writing about was writing. So here I am, blocked, yet writing. It’s a start.
If I don’t write again for a few days, it’s because I’m hoping that my house is attacked by a new mammal, I fall down some stairs, or I encounter a really good meme so I can post something worthy of your attention. Now, if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to be in a dark room with a glass of whiskey and a typewriter channeling my inner wordsmith.
Posted by stefanie on July 26, 2007 at 2:40 am
Let me know how the whiskey thing turns out. I’m sort of working with the theory that alcohol makes us all better writers. It pretty much explains most of the greats, doesn’t it? If I don’t post for a while, it’s not that I’m busy or lazy or writer’s-blocked, but that I’m trying to avoid a spiral into alcoholism.
I kid, I kid. (Mostly.)
Posted by stilettoheights on July 26, 2007 at 12:35 pm
you had my at whiskey….
I think there is something in the air…I blogged about the f-ing weather today…THE WEATHER, what am I, one of the Golden Girls?
Posted by lizgwiz on July 26, 2007 at 2:06 pm
The brain turns to sludge somewhat in the summer. It comes from all those years in school, where your brain gets a rest for three months. We’re preconditioned–it’s not our fault. That’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it.
Posted by -R- on July 26, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I always wanted to be a writer when I was growing up. I still like the idea of being a writer in theory, but I don’t think I will ever be a published author. And that doesn’t disappoint me at all.
Isn’t it weird to know that strangers read your blog? Weird but cool?
Posted by Noelle on July 26, 2007 at 3:55 pm
stefanie – the whiskey thing totally didn’t work out. I went to yoga instead. That means that any book I write will now be hopelessly new-agey.
stiletto – As long as you don’t blog about your impeding menopause, you’re safely out of GG territory.
liz – I’m totally for that theory as well. I’m all about circadian rhythms that last for years.
-r- It is kind of odd, espeically when it turns out that the people that read my blog are potential extended real life friends. Like people I would have been close with if by chance I lived on their side of the world.
Posted by Aaron on July 26, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I’ve found that the most amazing thing for me is just to say in casual convo that I’m “a writer”. There’s no need to explain that my writing these days is mostly limited to blog posts and zombie screenplays starring my friends. I just say “I’m a writer”, and I believe it.
It sounds better than “I work in a gym”, anyway.
Posted by mermu on July 27, 2007 at 5:10 am
I cannot wait for Nanowrimo!
http://www.nanowrimo.org
Posted by rdl on July 31, 2007 at 2:01 am
Just keep writing, writing, writing. I like lizqwiz’s summer theory.